Judi Lloyd: Are coffee grounds good for plants?

Americans sure do love their “cup of Joe.” You can attest to this when you go by a Starbucks or any of the many other coffee shops around. So with all this coffee being consumed every day, is there some productive use we can come up with for all those grounds that end up in the trash? The grounds are almost as valuable as the...

Americans sure do love their “cup of Joe.” You can attest to this when you go by a Starbucks or any of the many other coffee shops around. So with all this coffee being consumed every day, is there some productive use we can come up with for all those grounds that end up in the trash? The grounds are almost as valuable as the liquid coffee if we save them for use in the garden, thereby getting the most bang for our fair-trade-coffee-buck.

Start now to save your coffee grounds, and put them in your garden to amend the soil. I do have one caveat about this, though, before using them as a fertilizer with any of your edible plants. If you intend to add them to soil where vegetables, herbs or fruits are planted, it is recommended that you use organic coffee. More than half of the world’s coffee beans are sprayed with potentially harmful pesticides. But, if you plan on using them on shrubs and ornamentals, any old grounds will do.

Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and contain nitrogen, a mineral that helps plant growth. They are particularly good for plants that thrive on nitrogen, such as tomatoes, roses, blueberries and evergreens. It, also, improves soil structure and texture.

Another use for coffee grounds in your garden is as mulch. They make pretty black borders in flower gardens, which add a nice contrast to the flower petal colors. Don’t use the grounds by themselves as they tend to make a thick sludge, preventing air and water getting down into the soil. So it is best to mix the grounds with other types of organic mulch.

Coffee-ground mulch can deter certain garden pests, such as snails and slugs, which seems to have a fatal effect on both of these pests.

OK, so how can you use coffee grounds in your garden? Do not use them if they are rotten or fermented. It is best to use fresh drip grounds versus boiled ones, as they have higher nitrogen content. Before you water your plants, sprinkle the used grounds around them for a slow-release of nitrogen. This can also be done in smaller quantities with house plants. If you are not using a permanent reusable coffee filter, try to purchase compostable non-bleached filters, which will decompose in your yard. You can do a fertilizing spray by diluting the grounds in water and spraying the plants with it.

This is a huge step toward a greener planet, as most people are not aware that decomposed coffee actually ends up in the waste stream where it emits methane gases. Just think of the huge amount of green-house gases this is creating on a daily basis. This reason alone should encourage you to use your own coffee grounds, or those from your office in your garden.

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Judi Lloyd lives in River Bend and can be contacted at judilloyd@yahoo.com.